CHAPTER XIII.
MR. BARNES GOES SOUTH.
Mr. Barnes now began some researches into the past history of Mr.Alphonse Thauret. Obtaining the date of his first registry at theHoffman House he found that to be about a month before the train robberyoccurred. Finding the expressman who had brought his baggage to thehotel, it transpired that it had been taken from an English steamship,yet the name Thauret did not appear upon the list of passengers. As itwas certain, however, that the man must have arrived by the ship, it wasevident that "Thauret" was an alias. Mr. Barnes copied the ship's listfor future reference. A search for the name Rose Mitchel was fruitless,though extended to the passenger lists of all arriving steamers for twomonths prior to the murder.
Believing that Mr. Thauret must have some communication with foreignfriends, and hoping to obtain some clue by the post-marks of any suchletters, Mr. Barnes arranged an espionage of the man's mail. But thoughthe hotel clerk reported to him daily for several weeks, there was notone foreign letter. As to money, Mr. Thauret appeared to be wellsupplied, paying his board-bills promptly with checks upon a neighboringnational bank, in which it was ascertained that he had deposited to hiscredit several thousand dollars.
Thus after a long investigation, Mr. Barnes was chagrined to admit thathe had discovered nothing save that Mr. Thauret had come across theocean under an assumed name, and even this meagre knowledge was a merematter of inference.
Though baffled in this direction Mr. Barnes had been more successful inanother effort which he essayed. This was a line of investigation whichhe inaugurated, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the child RoseMitchel, who was so skilfully kept in hiding. He had first instructedLucette as to the part she was to play, and that young woman, anxiousonce more to stand well with her employer, had exerted herself to herutmost, entirely succeeding in her mission. This was to obtain some ofthe writing of the child. "Go to the house again," Mr. Barnes hadsuggested, "and get into conversation with that same servant who met youat the door on your first visit. Then in some manner obtain a specimenof the child's writing. An old copy-book would be just the thing."Lucette carried out these instructions to the letter, and by bribing theservant girl at the school obtained exactly what the detective hadsuggested, a copy-book in which little Rose Mitchel had practisedwriting.
Armed with this, and selecting a specimen, which seemed best suited tohis purpose, Mr. Barnes next bribed the mail boy at the Fifth AvenueHotel to examine all letters addressed to Mr. Mitchel until he shouldfind one in the same hand. It was not until early in March that thispatient work resulted in success. Then one day the boy reported to Mr.Barnes that the expected letter had at length arrived. The post-markindicated that it had been mailed at East Orange, New Jersey.
"So that is where the little bird is hidden," said Mr. Barnes to himselfwhen this information reached him. Summoning Lucette, he sent her toEast Orange with these instructions:
"Now, my girl, I'll give you another chance to redeem yourself. You areto go to East Orange and find that child. The most promising plan isthrough the post-office. I will give you a note to the postmaster thatwill aid you. Should a letter be sent to the child either by Mitchelhimself or by Miss Remsen, you will learn of it through the postmaster.The rest of course will be simple."
"But suppose," said Lucette, "that the child's letters are directedunder cover to the parties with whom she is living? What then?"
"Why, stupid, that is what I send you down there for. As the postmasteris an acquaintance of mine, I could get the address, should it reachhim, without having you there. But that is only a faint hope. We knowthat the child is in East Orange. East Orange has just so many houses.You must examine every one if necessary. Now go, and if you don't findthe child, I have no further need of you. I give you this commissionpartly as a chance to redeem your other mistake, and partly because youhave seen the child once and could recognize her."
"I'll find her," said Lucette, and she departed.
A week later Mr. Barnes was in New Orleans, where he devoted himself todiscovering, if possible, the early histories of Mr. Mitchel and themurdered woman. Weeks passed and he made no progress.
One morning in the latter part of April he was feeling somewhatdespondent over his ill success, when, as he glanced listlessly throughthe _Picayune_, the following paragraph caught his eye:
"Mr. Barnes, the celebrated New York detective, is in the city andstopping at the St. Charles Hotel. It is believed that he is in searchof a desperate criminal, and probably the news-loving world will soon betreated to one of the famous detective's clever elucidations of somemysterious crime."
This both annoyed and puzzled Mr. Barnes. He had not told any one histrue name, and could not guess how the reporters had found out hisidentity. Whilst he was thinking of it a card was brought to him whichbore the name
"RICHARD SEFTON."
He directed that the gentleman should be shown to his room, and soonafter a man of about thirty-five, with dark complexion, black hair, andkeen hazel eyes, entered, bowing politely and saying:
"This is Mr. Barnes, I believe."
"Be seated, Mr. Sefton," said Mr. Barnes, coldly, "and then tell me whyyou believe me to be Mr. Barnes when I am registered as James Morton."
"I do not believe you to be Mr. Barnes," said the other, coolly seatinghimself. "I was inaccurate in using that expression. I know that you areMr. Barnes."
"Oh! You do! And how, pray, do you know that I am Mr. Barnes?"
"Because it is my business to know people. I am a detective likeyourself. I have come to help you."
"You have come to help me! You are very kind I am sure. But since youare so very clever, perhaps you would not mind telling me how you knowthat I need help, and in what direction."
"With pleasure. You need help because, pardon my saying it, you areworking on a case in which time is precious to you, and you have alreadywasted about six weeks. I say wasted, because you have learned nothingthat will aid you in your search."
"In my search for what?"
"Mr. Barnes, you are not over-cordial. There should be some fraternalcourtesy between us. I have come to you as a friend, honestly wishing toaid you. I have known that you were in the city for some time. I haveheard of you of course. Who in our business has not? Therefore I havespent a great deal of spare time watching you. I did so simply tonotice, and perhaps to learn something from, your methods. In this way Ibecame acquainted with the fact, first, that you are interested in thename Mitchel, and secondly in the name Leroy. I have simply put the twotogether and jumped to the conclusion that you are trying to learnsomething about Leroy Mitchel. Am I right?"
"Before I reply to you, Mr. Sefton, I must have more assurance of yourgood-will and responsibility. How do I know that you are a detective atall?"
"Quite right! Here is my badge. I am in the department here."
"Very well so far, but now how can you prove that you have any goodreason for assisting me?"
"You are a hard man to help, I declare. Why, what object but a friendlyone can I have?"
"I am not prepared to answer that at present. Perhaps I shall be able todo so later."
"Oh, very well! You can look me up all you want to. I can stand it, Iassure you. But really I did want to help, though of course I have noright to intrude. As you say you do not need me, why I----"
"I did not say that I would not accept your aid. You must not think meungracious. I am simply a detective, and careful from habit. I certainlyshould not speak confidentially to a man that I meet for the first time,and so disclose any of my own purposes. But it is different with you.You must have had a definite idea, by which you expect to give meassistance, or you would not have come here. If you are earnest andhonest, I see no reason why you should not disclose the main purpose ofyour visit at once."
"If only to prove my honesty, I will do so. I believe you are lookingfor Leroy Mitchel. If so I can tell you how to find him in a few hours,or at the worst in a day or two."
"You
know of a Leroy Mitchel, who is now in this city?"
"I do. He is over in Algiers, a worker in one of the car houses. He is acommon drunken brute, and that is the only reason why there would be anydifficulty about finding him. When he is sober he is easy to see, but assoon as he gets some money he is off on another spree."
"Do you know of a woman by the name of Rose Mitchel?"
"Certainly. That is, I did know such a woman once. But she has not beenin New Orleans for years. At one time any one could have given you heraddress. I see now that this man is the one whom you want, for once hepassed as this woman's husband."
"You are sure of this?"
"Positive."
"When and where can I see this man?"
"He works in the shops of the Louisiana and Texas Railroad over inAlgiers. You can find him through the foreman."
"Mr. Sefton, it may be that you have given me information which will beof service to me. If so you will not regret it. I will myself examineinto the matter. For the present, if I do not make a confident of you,you must attribute it to caution rather than to distrust."
"Oh, I am not easily offended. I would act in the same manner in yourplace. But you will find that I am your friend. You can count on me toaid you on demand. I won't trouble you again till you send for me. Anote to head-quarters will reach me quickest. Good-morning."
"Good-morning, Mr. Sefton, and thank you." Mr. Barnes extended his hand,feeling that perhaps he had been unnecessarily discourteous.
Mr. Sefton took it with that genial smile of friendship so common to thenative Southerner.
Left alone, Mr. Barnes at once prepared for a trip to Algiers,determined not to let any more time be lost. He reached the shops justafter the men had knocked off for luncheon. The foreman, however, toldhim that Leroy Mitchel had been at work in the morning, so he waitedpatiently.
When the men came back to resume work, the foreman pointed out a man whohe said was Leroy Mitchel. The fellow had a bad face, and if ever he wasa gentleman he had sunk so low through drink that no evidence of itremained in his appearance. Mr. Barnes went up to him and asked when hecould have a talk with him.
"Now, if you pay for it," replied the man insolently.
"What do you mean?" asked the detective.
"Just what I say," said the other. "We get our pay here by the hour, andif you want my time why you'll have to pay for it at union rates," andhe laughed as though a good joke had been propounded.
"Then," said Mr. Barnes, taking in the kind of a man with whom he hadto deal, "I'll engage you on a job that I have for you, and pay youdouble wages as long as I use you."
"Now you are talking," said the fellow. "Where'll we go?"
"I think I'll take you to my hotel." And thither they proceeded. Up inhis own room again, Mr. Barnes felt at ease, whilst his companioncertainly made himself comfortable, selecting a rocking-chair, andputting his feet up on the window-sill.
"Now then," began Mr. Barnes, "I want to ask you a few questions. Areyou prepared to answer them?"
"That will depend on what they are. If you don't ask impertinentquestions, or ones that I think I ought to get more than double wagesfor answering, why, I am with you."
"In the first place, then, are you willing to say whether you ever knewa woman who called herself Rose Mitchel?"
"Well, rather. I lived with her till she broke me."
"Do you know where she is now?"
"I don't, and I don't care to."
"Suppose I were to tell you that she is dead, and that she had left ahundred thousand dollars which is unclaimed?"
The man jumped to his feet as though shot, and stood staring at thedetective. He gave a long, low whistle, and a keen, tricky gleam cameinto his eye, which Mr. Barnes noted. At length he spoke:
"Are you giving me this straight?"
"I am telling you the truth. The woman is dead, and that amount ofproperty is where I can get it for the man who can prove that he isentitled to it."
"And who would that be?" He waited eagerly for the reply, and Mr. Barnessaw that he was playing trump cards.
"Why, Mr. Mitchel, that is what I am down here for. You see, I thoughtthe party would be willing to pay me a good commission for proving himthe heir, and that is why I am hunting him up. I started out with theidea that I might find her husband. He would have a claim."
"I see." Saying which, he sat down and seemed lost in thought. Thedetective deemed it well to wait for him to speak again, which he did.
"See here," he exclaimed; "how much do you want for getting this moneyfor me?"
"I cannot get it at all unless you are the woman's husband," replied thedetective.
"Well I am her husband. Didn't I tell you I lived with her till shebroke me?"
"Yes, but are you legally married to her?"
"Why, to be sure. Don't I tell you I am her husband?"
"Then, in the name of the law, I arrest you," said Mr. Barnes, suddenlyrising and standing over the man.
"Arrest me," said the fellow, jumping up, pale with fright. "What for?"
"Rose Mitchel has been murdered, and the man who killed her hasconfessed that he was hired to do it by you."
"He is a blasted liar."
"I hope so for your sake. But as you admit that you are her husband, youare the man we are looking for. I'll have to take you to New York."
"But, I say," said the fellow, now thoroughly alarmed, "there is a bigmistake here. I've been lying to you; I'm not the woman's husband, andmy name is not Mitchel."
"That won't do, my man. I had you pointed out to me by Sefton, thedetective here."
"But he is the very man that hired me to pass off as Mitchel to you."
Mr. Barnes chuckled as he found his ruse successful. He had suspectedall along that the New Orleans detective was trying to lead him off on awrong scent, and now thought he saw a chance to turn the tables upon himand get some valuable information.
"That is a very thin story," said he, "but if you will tell me all youknow, perhaps I may believe you."
"You bet I'll give you the whole story straight, to get out of thisscrape. In the first place, my name is Arthur Chambers. I was up in theworld once, had money, and was respectable. But drink changed all that.Now anybody can buy me for a few dollars, and that is what Sefton did.He came to me about a week ago, and told me that a detective was downhere from up north nosing around for this Mitchel. He said it wasimportant to an employer of his up in New York to have this detectivebalked; that he was hired to do it, and to make him lose time; thattime, in some way, was an important item."
"You say," interrupted Mr. Barnes, "that Sefton told you he was hired bysome one in New York to throw me off the scent?"
"That's what he said," replied Chambers. Mr. Barnes easily guessed whowas employing Sefton, and once more he paid the tribute of admirationfor the caution and ingenious scheming of Mr. Mitchel.
"Go on," said the detective.
"There an't much more to tell. Sefton hired me to play off that I wasMitchel, and he gave me a cock-and-bull yarn to feed you with about awoman named Rose Mitchel."
"What was that story?"
"Say, look here," said Chambers, his confidence and cunning returning ashe felt himself out of danger of arrest, "you don't want that fairytale. You would rather have the true story, wouldn't you?"
"Certainly."
"Well, I'm an old-timer, I am. There an't much that's happened in theCrescent that I couldn't remember, if I was paid for it."
"See here, my man, you are not dealing with Sefton now. You tell me whatI want to know, and if I find it is true, I'll pay you for it. But ifyou play any tricks, I'll make it warm for you."
"That's all right. Suppose I begin by telling you that this RoseMitchel, that you say was murdered, was known down here chiefly as RoseMontalbon. 'La Montalbon,' she was generally called."
"La Montalbon?" repeated Mr. Barnes. "Then, was she an actress?"
"Actress? Well, I guess she was, considerable. But not on the stage.
No,she kept a gambling-den on Royal Street. Fitted up like a palace too,and many a young fool has lost his last dime in that house."
"But what about Mitchel? Do you know whether he was connected with herin any way?"
"I can't give you that dead straight. There was some mystery there. Iused to go to the Royal Street place, and I knew Mitchel in a sort ofway. He was always hanging around there. Then there was a while that hedidn't show up, and then he turned up again and was introduced as LaMontalbon's husband. There was a story going that he had married anothergirl and deserted her. A young Creole I think, though I never heard hername."
"Did you know anything about a child, a girl?"
"That was another queer part of it. There was a girl, little Rosy. Somesaid it was the Creole's, but La Montalbon always claimed it was hers."
"What became of Mitchel?"
"About a year after he passed as La Montalbon's husband he skippedout--vanished. Several years after that there was another sensation. Thechild was kidnapped. La Montalbon offered big rewards to recover her,but she never did. Then about three years ago her place began to rundown; she lost money, and finally she too disappeared."
"If this story is true it may be quite important. Do you think you couldidentify this man Mitchel?"
"Well, I don't know for certain. But see here, come to think of it,there were two Mitchels, and both named Leroy too."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Pretty sure. They were cousins. The other fellow was younger. I didn'tknow him myself. He was a Young-Men's-Christian-Association sort of aboy, and not quite in my line. But I sort of remember hearing that hewas in love with the Creole girl. But say, I'll tell you who can give itto you straight as a shingle."
"Ah, who is that?"
"An old man named Neuilly. He knew all about the Creole, and so mustknow about the Mitchels. I think he was in La Montalbon's power. Sheknew something about him and blackmailed him, as she did lots of others.Now that she is dead, you might make him open his mouth."
"Very good. Get me his address, and then see what you can find out aboutthe other Leroy Mitchel, the good boy. Discover what became of him andI'll pay you well. Meanwhile don't let Sefton know that you are notcarrying out his scheme."
"Say, pard, I tumble to you now. You suspected Sefton and you playedyour cards to draw me out. Well, you did it neat, and now I'm with you.Good-day. When I see you again I'll have some news for you."
The following day Mr. Barnes called at the bachelor home of Mr.Neuilly. The handsome old man received him in stately fashion andcourteously asked the detective to explain his mission.
For a moment Mr. Barnes did not know how to proceed; he at last said:
"Mr. Neuilly, I have come to ask your aid in the cause of justice. Ihave hesitated to do this, not wishing to disturb you. That I do so nowis due to the fact that every other resource has been tried and hasfailed me."
"Proceed, sir," said the host, with a courteous bow.
"I am seeking certain information about a woman who was known as LaMontalbon, and----" An instantaneous change came over the face of Mr.Neuilly. His hospitable smile of welcome vanished. He rose erect andstiffly said:
"I know nothing of that woman, and must wish you a very good morning,"with which he deliberately began to walk from the room. Mr. Barnes for amoment was nonplussed, but saw that he must act quickly or lose allchance of gaining any information from this man.
"One moment, Mr. Neuilly," he said; "you certainly would not refuse tohelp me convict her murderer." As he expected, the last word brought himback.
"Murderer? Did you mean to intimate that she has been murdered?" Sayingthis he stopped for a second, and then slowly returned and sat downagain.
"Rose Montalbon was murdered in New York some months ago. I believethat I am on the track of the guilty man. Will you aid me?"
"That depends upon circumstances. You say the woman is dead. That altersmy position in this matter very much. I had reasons, good ones to me,for refusing to converse with you on this subject. But if the woman isdead, the objections vanish." Mr. Barnes thought he understood. Here wasone of those who had been ruled by fear, as Chambers had said.
"What I want from you, Mr. Neuilly, is very simple. You either can oryou cannot give me the information that I wish. Did you know a man namedLeroy Mitchel who was at one time this woman's husband?"
"I knew him very well. He was a scoundrel of the deepest dye, for allthat he had the manners of the polished gentleman."
"Do you know what became of him?"
"No; he left this city suddenly and has never returned."
"Did you know little Rose Mitchel?"
"Many a time has she sat upon my knee. This man was her father. Hewronged one of the sweetest little girls that ever lived."
"You knew this girl? Knew her name?"
"I did."
"What was it?"
"That is a secret I have guarded for too many years to be willing toyield it now to a stranger. You must show me good reasons for giving itto you before I tell it."
"I will explain. This man Mitchel is now in New York. He is about tomarry a sweet, good woman. Yet I think that he murdered Rose Montalbon,or Mitchel, to get her out of his way. I think that she was blackmailinghim. Besides, he has his child with him."
Mr. Neuilly started up and paced the room for some time, much agitated.Finally he stopped and said:
"You say he has the child with him?"
"Yes. Here is her likeness." He handed Mr. Neuilly the photograph madeby Lucette.
Mr. Neuilly looked at it, muttered "very like! very like!" then remainedsilent for some moments; finally he said:
"And you think he murdered this woman, Montalbon?"
"I do."
"It would be terrible to hang that child's father. What dishonor! Whatdishonor! But Justice is Justice!" He seemed to be talking rather tohimself than to Mr. Barnes. Suddenly he turned and said:
"I cannot tell you the name for which you ask. But I will go with you toNew York, and if this story of yours is true, I will move heaven andearth to see justice done. That villain must not ruin another younglife."
"Good," exclaimed the detective, delighted with the result of his visit.
"One more point, Mr. Neuilly. What do you know of the existence ofanother Mr. Leroy Mitchel?"
"I never met him, though I knew of him. There was a mystery about that,which I never could unravel. I think that he loved this same girl. Atany rate shortly after she died, he lost his reason, and is now in aninsane asylum. Of course he cannot help us."
Mr. Barnes, after arranging where to meet Mr. Neuilly, returned to theSt. Charles to make his own preparations for going north. Up in his roomhe found Chambers awaiting him.
"Well," said the detective, "what have you learned?"
"Nothing that will please you, I am sorry to say. Only I have found theother Mitchel. He is a lunatic, in an asylum out in the suburbs. But thefellow up north is your man sure. This one, they say, went crazy becausehis sweetheart gave him the mitten."
"Did you find out the woman's name?"
"I could not do that. It seems as carefully hidden as though it was astate secret. That gives you an insight into what the Creole pride is."
"Very well. I think you have worked for me faithfully. Here is a hundreddollar bill. Will that satisfy you?"
"Perfectly. I wish you luck."
An hour later a telegram was handed to Mr. Barnes, which read:
"Have found the child. (Signed) Lucette."
In the afternoon Mr. Barnes started for New York accompanied by Mr.Neuilly. That same night Mr. Robert Leroy Mitchel received a telegramwhich read:
"Barnes off for New York. Has old Neuilly with him. If the last named knows anything, you must be careful. (Signed) SEFTON."
After reading this, Mr. Mitchel completed his toilet, used the despatchto light a cigarette, and then took his _fiancee_ to th
e opera.